Chapter 10 - The Quiet Alarm.
Graham denied being at the station.
His attorney provided hotel parking records showing his car had entered the garage at 9:42 p.m.
Adrian pointed out that the station was less than forty minutes away.
The attorney pointed out that timing was not proof.
Again, everyone had just enough information to be furious and not enough to act.
Claire hated that part most.
At noon, the Whitmores moved to a private suite in another hotel.
Claire planned to go home.
Adrian objected.
Claire ignored him.
Eleanor compromised by arranging a car and insisting Claire take two days off with full pay through the event company.
"You can't pay me to stay home," Claire said.
"Watch me."
Claire almost smiled.
Then every alarm panel in the corridor began flashing.
No sirens sounded.
Only silent red lights.
Hotel staff appeared from both ends of the hallway, confused.
Reed checked his phone.
"System maintenance wasn't scheduled."
The elevator doors opened.
A man in a maintenance jacket stepped out carrying a black tool case.
Claire saw the blue stripe on his temporary credential.
Her body reacted before her mind caught up.
"Adrian."
He turned.
The man saw Claire looking at him.
He immediately stepped back into the elevator.
Adrian ran.
The doors closed before he reached them.
Reed used the stairwell while security tracked the elevator.
Claire remained with Eleanor, but she could feel her pulse in her throat.
"Was that Mercer?" Eleanor asked.
"No. Different face. Same kind of badge."
The silent alarm stopped.
Adrian returned three minutes later.
"He got off on four. Security found the jacket in a stairwell."
"What was in the case?" Claire asked.
Adrian held up a small black device inside an evidence bag.
"A badge encoder."
Someone had been making access cards inside the hotel.
Reed immediately ordered every temporary credential disabled.
The investigator was called back.
Claire's phone rang.
Unknown number.
Adrian reached for it.
Claire pulled away.
"My phone."
She answered on speaker.
For two seconds, there was only breathing.
Then Martin Hale spoke.
"Claire Donovan?"
Everyone froze.
"Yes."
"You don't know me, but I know what you did last night."
His voice was strained and rushed.
"I need you to listen carefully."
Claire looked at Eleanor.
"Where are you?"
"I can't tell you."
"Are you safe?"
A pause.
"For the moment."
Adrian moved closer to the phone.
"Martin, this is Adrian."
"I know."
"Come in. We can protect you."
"Not until you understand what Graham has."
Eleanor gripped the edge of the table.
"What does he have?"
Martin lowered his voice.
"The audit isn't the real problem."
The line crackled.
"He has the trust amendment your father signed before he died."
Adrian went perfectly still.
Martin continued.
"If Eleanor loses her board seat before the annual vote, Graham controls the voting proxy."
Then the call ended.
Nobody spoke for several seconds.
Claire could hear the air-conditioning unit clicking above them.
Adrian looked at his mother as if the room had shifted beneath his feet again.
May you like
The chandelier had been only the first move.
The real prize was control of everything Eleanor represented on the board.
